Government/Military

[Satellite TODAY 11-24-10] The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Office of Commercial Space Transportation has issued SpaceX a license to re-enter a spacecraft from orbit, making SpaceX the first commercial company to be authorized to do so since the FAA was formed, SpaceX announced Nov. 23.     The license, valid for one year from the...

[Satellite TODAY Insider 11-23-10] Demand for Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) services will be worth $224.5 billion by 2020, according to a study released Nov. 22 by the European GNSS Agency (GSA). The findings aim to provide motivation for the European Commission (EC) to continue investing into the expensive Galileo satellite navigation system, which is...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-10] ViaSat has selected Tecom Industries’ KuStream 1500 antenna system for integration into a communication system onboard a Boeing C-17 aircraft to support high data rates for transmission and reception of military Ku-band, Tecom announced Nov. 22.     The acquisition of the low profile, aerodynamic antenna system is part ViaSat’s Yonder broadband data...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-10] The U.S. Department of Defense’s STPSat-2 satellite has launched from the Kodiak Launch Complex, Alaska on board a Minotaur 4 rocket, the U.S. Air Force announced Nov. 22.     STPSat-2 was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies to be the first spacecraft for the Pentagon’s Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV)...

[Satellite TODAY 11-23-10] United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched a classified satellite for the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), marking its fourth successful flight of a Delta 4 Heavy rocket, the company announced Nov. 22.     The rocket lifted off Nov. 21 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. and performing as expected, ULA said. The...

[Satellite News 11-23-10] In coming years, the U.S. Department of Defense and other agencies of the federal government are expected to increase their dependence on commercial satellite services to augment and complement dedicated space-based communication platforms.     In an interview with Satellite News, MTN Government Services (MTNGS) President Jim Ramsey shared his company’s supply-side perspective...

[Satellite TODAY 11-22-10] Prime contractor Thales Alenia Space and its partner OHB-System have been given the green light to begin work on the Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) system from the European Space Agency (ESA), Thales announced Nov. 19.     The 1.3 billion euro ($1.77 billion), six-satellite program is being co-financed by ESA and the European...

[Satellite TODAY 11-22-10] Com Dev USA was awarded a $6 million contract to provide UHF passive microwave equipment for a U.S. government satellite payload, the company announced Nov. 19.     Design and production work will be performed at Com Dev USA’s manufacturing facility in El Segundo, Calif., with delivery scheduled for mid-2012. The UHF frequency...

[Satellite TODAY 11-22-10] United Launch Alliance (ULA) is set to launch a classified U.S. National Reconnaissance Office satellite on a Delta 4 Heavy rocket this evening from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, ULA announced Nov. 19.     The mobile service tower at Launch Complex 37 rolled back this morning, revealing the 23-story United Launch Alliance...

[Satellite TODAY 11-19-10] Globecomm Systems Inc. was awarded a systems contract from an unnamed U.S. government agency, the company announced Nov. 18.     Under the contract, valued at $3.3 million, Globecomm will supply Summit and Auto-Explorer Pre-Engineered Terminals. Globecomm expects to complete the contract by the end of June.     “Our government clients continue to...